The Seattle Times, King County Council races begin to take shape

King County Elections, Sarah Reyneveld

Promises to "champion frequent, reliable, and safe transit service," and wants to transition to electric buses and help develop sustainable fuel for airplanes.

Supports building a light rail to Ballard and new electric vehicle charging stations.

Wants to make transit free for low-income people and incentivize employers to pay for their employee's annual transit passes.

- Promises to "champion frequent, reliable, and safe transit service," and wants to transition to electric buses and help develop sustainable fuel for airplanes.  
- Supports building a light rail to Ballard and new electric vehicle charging stations. 
- Wants to make transit free for low-income people and incentivize employers to pay for their employee's annual transit passes.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to build affordable housing, expand emergency shelters, and build permanent supportive housing.

Supports more behavioral and physical healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness, and wants to expand county programs that provide these services, including JustCARE and Health Through Housing.

Wants to acquire, construct, preserve, and subsidize affordable and social housing, which are rental units owned by the government or a nonprofit.

Supports more multifamily affordable housing connected to transit, services, schools, and amenities.

- Plans to build affordable housing, expand emergency shelters, and build permanent supportive housing. 
- Supports more behavioral and physical healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness, and wants to expand county programs that provide these services, including JustCARE and Health Through Housing. 
- Wants to acquire, construct, preserve, and subsidize affordable and social housing, which are rental units owned by the government or a nonprofit. 
- Supports more multifamily affordable housing connected to transit, services, schools, and amenities.

Housing & Urban Development

Wants to address climate change and protect the environment, including passing a climate bond ordinance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and existing buildings.

Said, "I will partner with frontline and environmental justice communities to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to create sustainable and resilient communities."

Plans to protect waterways and prevent pollution "to enhance health, protect tribal treaty rights, and further salmon and orca recovery," including expanding the county wastewater treatment systems to prevent spills and discharge.

Wants to reach zero waste of resources by 2030 by investing in the county's solid waste infrastructure, creating new recycling markets, and increasing the purchase of recycled materials.

- Wants to address climate change and protect the environment, including passing a climate bond ordinance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and existing buildings. 
- Said, "I will partner with frontline and environmental justice communities to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to create sustainable and resilient communities." 
- Plans to protect waterways and prevent pollution "to enhance health, protect tribal treaty rights, and further salmon and orca recovery," including expanding the county wastewater treatment systems to prevent spills and discharge. 
- Wants to reach zero waste of resources by 2030 by investing in the county's solid waste infrastructure, creating new recycling markets, and increasing the purchase of recycled materials.

Environment

Wants more behavioral healthcare, substance use treatment, reproductive healthcare, and services for survivors of gender-based violence.

- Wants more behavioral healthcare, substance use treatment, reproductive healthcare, and services for survivors of gender-based violence.

Public Services

Plans to "enact upstream solutions to improve public safety, prevent gun violence, and end racial disparities in our criminal legal systems."

Opposes enforcing paying transit fares through punishments.

Wants to address the opioid crisis by building crisis care centers, increasing treatment beds, more substance use disorder treatment, and providing more behavioral health services.

Supports a goal of zero youth incarceration, expanding diversion programs like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program, and creating a county pilot program to help people released from prison reentry society by providing services and support.

- Plans to "enact upstream solutions to improve public safety, prevent gun violence, and end racial disparities in our criminal legal systems." 
- Opposes enforcing paying transit fares through punishments. 
- Wants to address the opioid crisis by building crisis care centers, increasing treatment beds, more substance use disorder treatment, and providing more behavioral health services. 
- Supports a goal of zero youth incarceration, expanding diversion programs like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program, and creating a county pilot program to help people released from prison reentry society by providing services and support.

Public Safety

The Daily, City and County Council candidates clash at UW town hall debate

Supports a progressive tax system and said, "I am tired of living in a state with the most regressive tax structure, where big business and wealthy individuals aren't paying their fair share...I am going to advocate, if elected, for the legislature to obtain local jurisdiction taxation authority to impose an excise tax on big business."

Plans to "invest[] in solutions that center equity and opportunity."

Supports "progressive revenue solutions."

Wants to pass a countywide dedicated transit revenue package to fund a King County Transportation Benefit District to restore and increase transit service, implement an updated Metro Connects, and transition to zero emission buses.

Supports investing in more child care subsidies.

- Supports a progressive tax system and said, "I am tired of living in a state with the most regressive tax structure, where big business and wealthy individuals aren't paying their fair share...I am going to advocate, if elected, for the legislature to obtain local jurisdiction taxation authority to impose an excise tax on big business."
- Plans to "invest[] in solutions that center equity and opportunity." 
- Supports "progressive revenue solutions." 
- Wants to pass a countywide dedicated transit revenue package to fund a King County Transportation Benefit District to restore and increase transit service, implement an updated Metro Connects, and transition to zero emission buses. 
- Supports investing in more child care subsidies.

Taxes & Budget

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Sarah Reyneveld

King County Elections, Jorge L. Barón

Supports dense, walkable neighborhoods and robust, reliable public transportation as an alternative to individual car usage.

- Supports dense, walkable neighborhoods and robust, reliable public transportation as an alternative to individual car usage.

Promises "to develop affordable and dignified housing for all and lead on comprehensive strategies to support our unhoused neighbors."

Wants to build affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness, while also providing shelter and support services in the short term.

Supports rent stabilization and tenant protections, and wants to prevent unfair evictions and displacement.

Believes that "[a]ccess to safe, affordable housing is a fundamental human right and essential for building strong and equitable communities."

- Promises "to develop affordable and dignified housing for all and lead on comprehensive strategies to support our unhoused neighbors." 
- Wants to build affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness, while also providing shelter and support services in the short term. 
- Supports rent stabilization and tenant protections, and wants to prevent unfair evictions and displacement. 
- Believes that "[a]ccess to safe, affordable housing is a fundamental human right and essential for building strong and equitable communities."

Supports climate resilience initiatives and plants to "approach this issue as one of climate justice, prioritizing the mitigation of impacts of the crisis on marginalized communities."

Plans to increase the use of sustainable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Promises to conserve natural resources in the Puget Sound, protect biodiversity, and making sure that land is used sustainably.

- Supports climate resilience initiatives and plants to "approach this issue as one of climate justice, prioritizing the mitigation of impacts of the crisis on marginalized communities." 
- Plans to increase the use of sustainable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 
- Promises to conserve natural resources in the Puget Sound, protect biodiversity, and making sure that land is used sustainably.

Supports universally affordable childcare.

Wants to expand behavioral health services, including substance use treatment.

Said, "I believe it is essential to use a racial justice lens when evaluating policies in all these issue areas."

- Supports universally affordable childcare. 
- Wants to expand behavioral health services, including substance use treatment. 
- Said, "I believe it is essential to use a racial justice lens when evaluating policies in all these issue areas."

Plans to focus on preventing crime, community-based policing, and using data to improve public safety.

Said, "I recognize the importance of a holistic approach to public safety that goes beyond traditional law enforcement measures."

Supports reforming the police, by providing more oversight, training in de-escalation, and prioritizing transparency.

Wants to get rid of discriminatory practices and promote fairness within the criminal justice system.

Supports alternatives to prison time, including rehabilitation, diversion programs, and restorative justice initiatives.

- Plans to focus on preventing crime, community-based policing, and using data to improve public safety. 
- Said, "I recognize the importance of a holistic approach to public safety that goes beyond traditional law enforcement measures." 
- Supports reforming the police, by providing more oversight, training in de-escalation, and prioritizing transparency. 
- Wants to get rid of discriminatory practices and promote fairness within the criminal justice system. 
- Supports alternatives to prison time, including rehabilitation, diversion programs, and restorative justice initiatives.

Plans to secure funding from the state government and said, "I believe that we will not be able to make sufficient progress in any of these issue areas if we do not address the way that county services are funded."

Wants more funding for public transportation, including expanding public transit options such as buses, light rail, and commuter trains.

- Plans to secure funding from the state government and said, "I believe that we will not be able to make sufficient progress in any of these issue areas if we do not address the way that county services are funded." 
- Wants more funding for public transportation, including expanding public transit options such as buses, light rail, and commuter trains.

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Jorge L. Barón

- County council members work together to set and implement county policy.
- County Council is tasked with approving the county budget, setting local tax rates, approving plans for land use in the county, and appointing county officials.
- County council members work to improve the county’s education system, ensure safety, make environmental and business policy, and run the county transportation network.
- There are nine county council members, who represent specific areas of the county.
- County council members are elected to four-year terms, with even numbered and odd numbered districts being up for election on an alternating basis every two years. Elections are nonpartisan, but county council members often make their party affiliations a matter of public record.